790.5/6–654: Telegram
The Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Aldrich) to the Department of State1
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5558. Geneva for Under Secretary. Re Embtel 5555,2 repeated US Del Geneva 125; Deptel 6593,3 repeated Paris 4430, Canberra 236, Wellington 188, Geneva Tosec 356.
[Page 550]Foreign Office has just told us UK unable agree to request reference telegram as feels proposal reopens question of participation in any eventual Southeast Asia defense organization4 and places in dire jeopardy prospect of eventual cooperation in any form of other Asian States such as India and Burma. UK would not object to US keeping Philippine and Thai military representatives informed of progress of talks and consulting them outside conference. UK equally proposes keep other Commonwealth members generally informed.
Although doubtful matter considered by formal Cabinet meeting yesterday above represents considered ministerial level decision.
Understand Foreign Office advising British Embassy Washington in similar sense.
- Repeated for information to Canberra, Wellington, Geneva, and Paris.↩
- Dated June 5, not printed. (790.5/6–554)↩
- Date illegible, probably June 5. (790.5/6–554) In this telegram the Department of State had informed other concerned posts of the request made in telegram 6575 to London, June 4, p. 547.↩
In telegram 5573 from London, June 8, the Embassy amplified this wording as follows: “Foreign Office states word ‘reopens,’ which used in oral UK answer to US request, intended convey UK continued belief that time not now propitious for discussion question of membership in a SEA defense organization. As UK does not feel able discuss membership at this time, it does not wish to be faced with a situation (Thailand and Philippine participation in five-power talks) which might prejudice in advance question of participation in any eventual SEA organization.
“As remainder of Embtel 5558 indicates, UK does not consider general question of SEA defense organization closed.” (790.5/6–854)
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